Esta made a motion to smooth hair onthe top of his head, hair that had disappeared years ago. He hadlong demanded that rooms be paid for in advance and occasionallyran into customers who would find fault with rooms just to gettheir money back. Placing his fists on his hips, he scowled at thewoman.

“Look,” he stated, “this is aprivate room, just what you paid for. Your door locks and thewindows have shutters. You want to go parading yourself around infront of an open window, that’s your business, but if yourscreaming wakes any of my late sleepers, I’ll have to kick youout.”

Esta stormed off, leaving the womancomplaining as he left. Everyone looked towards Esta as he reachedthe ground floor and the innkeeper just waved them off to indicatethat there was nothing to worry about. Back in the kitchen, hereturned his attention to the young boy who was selling rabbits tothe inn.

“Sorry, Arik,” he sighed.“That’s one crazy woman. First she travels around without a decentbodyguard, or as part of a caravan, and now she tries to sleep forfree. She wouldn’t even get to keep her coins if I did refund herroom price. The bandits would get her for sure. How many rabbits doyou have this morning, Arik?”

“Six good-sized ones thismorning, sir,” Arik replied. “What was the screamingabout?”

Esta looked up at Arik and rubbed hischin. “Nothing, I suppose. Where is your friend, Tedi, thismorning? Have you seen him?”

“No, sir,” the boy answered.“I suppose he’s sleeping late today. I should hurry along, though,if I’m going to fish with my father today.”

“Sorry, Arik,” the innkeeperapologized. “I saw him leaving while I was upstairs. I shouldn’thave kept you so long.”

“It’s okay, Master Tern,” Ariksaid. “He doesn’t really need my help anymore. The fish keepgetting smaller and less plentiful each season. Pretty soon, someof the fishermen are going to have to find other work.”